[no signal] ["Batuka" by Tito Puente plays] [♪] [music stops] [humming quietly] [door opens then closes] ¡Mami, mami!

I've got great news!

My goodness!

What is it, Delia?

Look, my first dance!

Our school's having a dance, and everyone's invited.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Your father and I would love to go.

We haven't been to a dance in such a long time.

But- but you can't go.

It's not for parents.

It's only for us, the students.

Everyone in my class.

Oh, I see.

Well, let me read this and see what it's all about.

Saturday night... 7:30... School gym... Appropriate dress, refreshments.

Well chaperoned.

Well, Delia, it certainly looks like it's been well-planned.

It should be fun.

Do you know who the chaperones will be?

No, that's not important.

But I know who the band is going to be, "Los Malos."

<i>Los Malos</i>?

The bad ones?

[chuckles] If they're bad, why are you so excited?

No, they're not bad.

That's just their name: Los Malos.

It's a neat name, and they're great.

Los malos no son malos, son fenómenos.

Right!

DORIS: [laughs] <i>[door closes]</i> ÁNGEL: [out of breath] Hola, mami.

Hi, Delia.

You beat me home again.

[chuckles] Hi, dear.

How was school?

Uh, fine.

Nothing special.

Well, Delia had a nice day.

Why don't you tell your brother about the dance?

Maybe he'd like to go, too.

What?!

He can't go.

He's too little!

I told you!

It's just for the people in my class.

Besides, he's my brother.

[footsteps recede] <i>[loud cymbals playing] </i> <i>[door opens and closes]</i> <i>[synth music with cymbals</i> <i>playing loudly]</i> LUIS: What's going on?

[loudly] What?

- What is going on?!

Delia's practicing.

[loudly] Practicing what?

Breaking the sound barrier?

Dancing.

Dancing?

Now, how can she dance to that noise?

I said, How can-- [door opens] ÁNGEL: [laughs] LUIS: Hey, hey, hey.

Will you please turn that down?

[volume lowers] Hi, papi.

I didn't know you were home.

Hi, sweetheart.

Uh... Listen, Delia.

Do you have to play that... that music so loudly?

My ears are still ringing.

But that's the way they'll play it at the dance.

Oh, yeah, well, this is our house.

This is not a gym, so just keep<i> </i>it down.

Keep the volume down.

All right?

I'm sorry, papi.

All right.

Hey!

You, out.

[loud music resumes] <i>[door opens and closes]</i> MANUEL: Saludos, mi familia.

LUIS: Buenas, don Manuel.

DORIS: Hola, papi.

ÁNGEL: Bendición.

Dios te bendiga, mijo.

Dios te bendiga.

How was your dinner, papi?

<i>Oh, fine.</i> Just fine.

Sometimes it's good to eat just with the boys.

You know?

Delia, ¿por qué estás tan triste?

¿Qué te pasa?

No es nada.

Estoy bien.

Ah, she's mad 'cause I won't dance with her.

Dancing is silly.

It's for girls.

What?

Hey, Ángel.

You know perfectly well that I dance.

Look, Ángel... Men and women, and boys and girls dance as partners.

Together Together?

That's even worse.

Yuck!

DORIS: [laughs] Delia... ¿por qué tú quieres que Ángel baile contigo?

Porque hay un baile el sábado de mi clase y yo quería practicar un poco.

¡Dios mío!

Why didn't you come to me?

I'm the best dancer this family has.

Ven, que te voy a enseñar cómo es.

DELIA: Okay, I'll get the record-- No, it's all right.

I have just the right thing.

[hushed conversation] [hushed talking continues] [Puerto Rican danza plays] [♪] [confused] What's that?

I can't dance to that.

You sure can.

Eso es una danza, un baile muy puertorriqueño.

Muy tradicional, muy formal, muy elegante.

Te va a gustar cuando estés bailando, ya tú verás.

Yo acostumbraba a bailarlo mucho con tu abuelita.

Mira.

Mira a ver, se baila así.

[♪] <i>DORIS:</i> <i>Así es, papi.</i> [♪] <i>LUIS: ¡Qué elegancia, don Manuel!</i> Eh, gracias.

[♪] Ahora conmigo.

- ¡Ay, no!

Pero ¿y por qué no?

Why don't we get up and dance, please?

Then maybe she'll give it a try.

LUIS: eh... [Pleadingly] ¿Sí?

MANUEL: [inaudible chatter] [♪] Tus papás lo van a hacer.

LUIS: [hums with music] [♪] Ven, ahora vamos nosotros.

[♪] <i>[humming resumes]</i> Eso es.

[♪] That's nice, Abuelo, but this isn't our kind of music.

No?

And what's your kind of music?

It's... livelier.

[laughing] I'll <i>say</i> it's livelier.

She means the stuff "Los Malos" play.

Stuff?

What stuff?

Ángel means <i>music</i>, papi.

And who plays that music?

¿Los Malos?

Yeah, they're great!

And they're going to be at the school dance.

Hmm, y si son tan buenos, ¿por qué se llaman precisamente Los Malos?

The bad guys.

Get it, grandpa?

They sure are bad dudes.

Even<i> I</i> like their music, but I don't dance to it.

Now you have me really lost.

"Dudes"?

I thought Duto was a cowboy.

Do they wear black hats like the bad guys in movies?

No, of course not.

They dress really cool.

You know, hip.

Today, when we say bad, we really mean good.

Everybody knows that.

No, not everybody knows that... Yo no entiendo la juventud de hoy.

¿Por qué es que dicen todo lo opuesto de lo que quieren decir?

Digo, ¿por qué no dicen lo que realmente intentan decir?

[♪] ¿Cómo se van a entender?

We understand each other alright.

Yes, but Abuelo is right.

Us grown-ups... We have a difficult time understanding your lingo.

[chuckles] Don't worry, pop.

I can always explain things to you.

Oh yeah?

[laughs] That's just what I needed.

Thank you.

[music ends] - Ah.

- That's it.

DORIS: [claps] Hey, let's get back to the dancing.

I was having a lot of fun there.

- So was I. Let's try something just a little different this time.

Yo tengo-- tengo el disco perfecto.

Lo que tú quieres es un cosa más alegre-- DORIS: ¡Un merengue!

No, no, no.

Una plena.

LUIS: ¿Plena?

- Sí.

DORIS: [exclaims] LUIS: [claps excitedly] Long time... since we danced our plena.

You remember plena times?

[laughs] - Tú eras buena bailando plena.

- Sí.

¿No te gustaba bailar mucho la plena?

No, a mí me encanta.

That's that all flashy Puerto Rican music again!

Desde luego que sí.

I know the pleasures of puertorriqueño.

Eso que estás oyendo ahora se llama una plena.

La plena es muy bonito, muy bonito.

Se que te va a gustar mucho.

Allá, casi todo el pueblo lo baila.

Prácticamente, todo el pueblo.

Mira, se baila así.

[♪] ¿Por qué lo llama una plena?

Realmente no te sabría explicar.

Algunos dicen que fue porqué se originó... cuando se bailaba afuera, ¿ves?

Bajo la luna llena.

"Luna llena, luna plena".

Y que de ahí viene 'plena'.

Pero ¿quién sabe?

Un misterio.

¡Qué chévere!

LUIS: [exclaims] Teach me how to dance.

- Con mami.

Con mami, con mami.

- Vente, vamos.

Arriba, Ángel.

Mueve esos pies.

Pero-- oye, pero muévete como si fueras puertorriqueño.

Parece mentira.

Tú pareces como si fueras un elefante con tres patas.

I like this music better.

If Delia's dance is going to be like this... I want to go, too!

Well, forget it, because it's not gonna be like this.

There's gonna be a band, and they're gonna play rock music.

I have to go to Laura's to practice.

You guys aren't any help.

<i>LUIS and DORIS:</i> <i>[groan in disappointment]</i> <i>[loud music continues]</i> <i>LUIS: Bye, honey...</i> [door opens] [heel clacks] Buenas tardes, Doris.

¿Cómo estás, Delia?

Hola, doña Inés.

Muy bien, ¿y usted?

Pues, ahí, como siempre, mija.

Buenas tardes, doña Inés.

Siéntese.

Siéntese.

- Ay, sí, mija.

Que sí me siento un poco cansada.

Estamos limpiando un poco.

Mmm hmm ¿Quiere un cafecito?

Hombre, sí.

Me vendría muy bien.

Doña Inés... - ¿Hmm?

El sábado que viene, hay un baile para todos los alumnos en mi clase, y yo voy también.

¿De verdad que vas a un baile?

¿Y con quién?

Con mi amiga Laura.

Papi nos lleva.

¿De verdad?

¿Es verdad eso, Doris?

- Sí Pero ven acá... ¿Van solas o Luis se queda con ellas?

No.

No hace falta que Papi se quede.

Aquí, en los Estados Unidos, es diferente.

Los padres dejan que los hijos y las hijas se vayan solos.

Doña Inés... aunque Luis no se quedara, esta bien, porque habrán unos maestros allá para asegurarse que todo funcione bien.

Sí.

Y en inglés se llaman <i>chaperones</i>.

¡Chaperona!

Igualito que en español.

Pero ven acá.

¿Qué vas a vestir?

¿Qué te vas a poner?

Bueno, no sé todavía.

Bueno, pero... enséñame lo que te vas a poner.

A lo mejor, yo te puedo ayudar.

¡OK!

[sigh] Ay, qué lindo.

[chuckles] ¡Ay, qué rico está!

See, mami?

I like both outfits.

But I can't decide which one to wear to the dance.

Ay, pero ven acá.

¿Pantalones pa' ir a un baile?

Ay, no.

Te debes vestir mejor.

Como toda una señorita.

Ay, como un traje que yo recuerdo.

Me puse una vez para ir a un baile en Puerto Rico.

¿Cómo era?

Era... Largo y blanco.

<i>[soft piano music plays]</i> Y tenía las mangas hasta aquí, con encaje aquí y aquí.

Y tenía un cinturón como de este ancho, en color azul.

[♪] Y yo así, del brazo de mi novio, que luego después fue mi esposo.

Y él me regalo una flor.

Una flor tan linda.

¡Qué lindo!

Recuerdo una foto de mi mamá vestida así.

¿No te parece lindo, Delia?

Sí.

Pero eso no es para mí, doña Inés.

Ese no es el estilo de hoy día.

Todo el mundo se viste mucho más casual.

No importa la ocasión.

Si yo fuera vestida así al baile, todos mis amigos se van a reír de mí.

Lo siento mucho, doña Inés, pero los tiempos cambian.

Lo sé, hijita.

Lo sé.

Pero las costumbres de antes eran tan bonitas, y tan buenas.

Muy distintas.

Mira a ver, Doris.

Mira a ver si la convences a que se ponga otra ropa.

[sighs] Ay, déja terminar mi cafeíto.

Mmm.

[cup clinks] Bueno... Estaba sabroso, Doris.

Así que nos vemos.

- Nos vemos, doña Inés.

Adiós, mijita.

- Adiós.

- Adios.

Hasta luego.

[door closes] Man... Doña Inés and Abuelo sure are old fashioned.

First, <i>he</i> wants me to do a danza, then, <i>she</i> wants me to wear a frilly dress just because she wore a long white dress to a dance.

What's it gonna be next?

Oh, come on, Delia.

Try to remember how quickly styles and ways of life have changed!

Even in <i>my</i> lifetime.

And for older people who grew up in a different culture, like doña Inés and Abuelo, the change seems even greater.

Yeah, I know.

But what does that-- - You are old enough to appreciate learning about other cultures, especially if it's the original culture of your own family.

So try to be patient and listen to their stories and their ideas.

And please, don't put them down.

They're only telling you about what was right for them.

But what's right for me is different.

I know.

There's nothing wrong with your clothes or your dances, but there's nothing wrong with the way things used to be done either.

They're just different.

<i>That's all.</i> Yeah, I guess you're right.

And I like the Puerto Rican ways.

Only some of them just don't fit in with the things that are around here.

<i>Now</i>, can you help me decide what to wear for the dance?

[giggles] Sure.

Vamos a ver.

Um, qué te parece... <i>[loud knocking]</i> [door opens] [door closes] <i>[knocking continues]</i> Coming.

<i>[children playing outside]</i> [door opens] Hello, don Manuel.

Can I come in for a minute?

Yeah.

I just went downstairs to look for Luis in the travel agency, and he's not there.

Is he here?

It's important.

I got to ask him something.

- No, Luis is not here.

Nobody is here, but me Mr.

Peters.

You see, Luis and Doris are helping a young couple who are moving into an apartment.

Ángel is outside playing, and Delia is at her friend's house practicing dances, so-- Dances, dances.

That's why I'm here.

- Yeah?

- Oh, boy, do I have a problem!

[frustrated exhale] Tell me about it.

Yeah, well, see, there's a school rule that says there has to be at least four chaperones at a school-sponsored dance, like the dance we're having tonight.

Well, yes.

<i>Well...</i> Two of the people that were supposed to be there tonight, they just called me up a couple of hours ago.

They can't make it.

Some kind of a family emergency.

I called several other teachers.

I called parents, and everybody's busy.

What am I going to do?

I can't cancel the dance.

Well, I-- I... Well, look, I know that Luis isn't here now, but do you think that probably he and Doris might be willing to fill in for tonight?

I'm not sure.

You see, I can't really answer for them.

[groans] Why did these things happen to me?

I'm such a bad person.

Wait, wait, Mr.

Peters.

I'm not busy tonight.

I'm sure that doña Inés doesn't have any plans, and we both love dancing.

So... We could go if you want us to.

Would you?!

Really?

You would do that?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Oh, that'll be terrific!

It pays to be good.

Now, be at the school tonight, seven o'clock sharp-- a half hour early.

- I will.

- Thanks, don Manuel.

I appreciate it.

You are welcome.

- Oh, the dance is fine.

Okay, see you tonight.

- All right.

Okay.

[door closes] [chuckles] Well, I better get dressed now.

Why?

[door closes] Isn't it early?

It's not even 6:30.

I know, I know!

But I want to have plenty of time.

<i>[bedroom door closes]</i> Doris, will you let me in on a secret?

<i>DORIS: What?</i> For a woman, how much time is... plenty of time?

Oh!

[dramatically] Time enough to look her BEST.

Papi.

<i>- Ah?</i> Why don't you come sit down and visit with us?

Oh, thank you, Doris.

I'm going out, too.

<i>LUIS: Oh?</i> <i>ABUELO: Yeah.</i> Where?

Eh, you see, I'm planning to-- well, I-- I... was planning to just take doña Inés to a movie.

A movie?

- Yeah, movie.

But doña Inés doesn't speak much English.

Oh, it's a special one.

You see, it's a Cantinflas movies.

In Spanish, of course, at the Lyric Theater.

Yeah.

Ahhh.

Well, have a good time.

Oh, thank you.

Okay.

[Los Malos performing] [♪] [♪] Wow, Delia, look at all the kids!

Yeah, I thought we'd be early.

Mr.

and Mrs.

Anderson and... Delia, look... <i>Oh my gosh!</i> What are <i>they</i> doing here?

They can't ever leave me alone!

It's not just fair, they just treat me like a baby!

[♪] Surprise, huh?

Abuelo!

Doña Inés!

¿qué hacen ustedes aquí?

Este es mi baile.

Estamos de sustitutos.

Hacían falta dos adultos para velarlos a ustedes, así que yo le dije al señor Peters que nosotros lo haríamos.

Sí, el Abuelo nos invitó.

Y te sorprendimos, ¿verdad?

Sí, sí, qué bien.

Bueno, con permiso.

Tenemos que ir a buscar a un amigo.

Bien, bien.

- Hasta luego.

Delia, what's going on?

I'll tell you later.

Delia!

Boy is your grandfather the hero tonight.

He saved the dance!

Hero?

What did he mean?

I'll tell you as soon as we get off the dance floor.

[♪] [♪] [♪] [♪] [♪] [♪] [music ends] ALL: [clapping] [indistinct chatter] Hello, Felipe.

Taking a little break, huh?

Yes, don Manuel.

Good, good.

I'm one of the chaperones, you know?

And I have been sort of enjoying your music.

Thanks.

But still... I can't figure out why do you call yourselves <i>Los Malos</i>?

Obviously, the students don't think you are bad.

What do you want us to call ourselves?

Los Buenos?

Well, why not?

Are you kidding?

That's too goody and corny.

Besides, kids today say bad to mean good.

[laughs] So I've been told.

STUDENT: Man, you dudes are really bad!

Hey, thanks a lot, man.

See what I mean?

No, not exactly.

I just don't know why you can't say what you really mean.

First, you didn't want to speak English.

Now that you do, it's all topsy-turvy.

I guess it's our way of doing things.

I never really thought about it.

Say, Felipe, don't you have any Puerto Ricans in your band?

Claro que sí.

¿Por qué?

Bueno, ¿Y entonces por qué no tocan algo puertorriqueño?

¿O es que no saben nada de allá?

Sí, pero la verdad es que... Aunque nos gusta la música la isla, solamente tocamos rock.

Vaya, eso es una lástima.

Tengo tantas ganas de bailar una danza, una plena.

Un momento, ¡tengo una idea!

En la biblioteca hay discos puertorriqueños, y un tocadiscos, ¿por qué no le preguntamos al señor Peters?

Don Manuel, how's everything going?

Oh, fine.

I'm having a very good time.

- Good, good.

I'm glad.

Very good.

- Mr.

Peters... Wait a minute.

We were wondering, if we could borrow some records-- Puerto Rican records from your library and a record player.

What for?

The band's not quitting.

They got a contract.

They can't do that.

<i>You just can't walk--</i> Of course, we're not quitting.

We just thought it would be fun to have some Puerto Rican-style dancing.

Don't you want to see how our people dance?

Well, I mean-- what does this mean?

Will you play again like after the break?

You can count on it!

Well, let me see.

Well, I guess it'll be all right.

Come on with me.

I'll unlock the library.

Come on, come on.

Attention, attention, everybody.

Tengo una sorpresa para todos.

El señor Muñoz, mi amigo, ha pedido que bailemos al estilo puertorriqueño.

Listen, I've got a surprise for everyone.

My friend, Mr.

Muñoz, has asked if we could try some Puerto Rican dancing style.

We think it's a great idea.

¡Vamos!

The first dance is called a danza.

[Puerto Rican danza plays] [♪] [children clapping and whistling] [♪] ALL: [clap] [♪] ALL: [clap] [♪] [music ends] ALL: [clapping] Ah.

Ah.

That was beautiful, beautiful.

Mr.

Muñoz, will you and your lovely partner please come here for a moment?

Come here.

Come on!

Beautiful.

That was beautiful.

DOÑA INÉS: Thank you.

You are welcome.

We really enjoyed it.

- Good, good.

Mr.

Muñoz, on behalf of the band and the students, I want to thank you very much for adding so much to tonight's dance.

It was beautiful.

We enjoyed it, didn't we?

It was beautiful.

ALL: [clapping] [clapping and cheering] FELIPE: Mr.

Peters... There's something I'd like to say, if it's all right with you.

All right, go ahead.

Tell it like it is, Felipe.

Go ahead, get up here.

Mr.

Muñoz... I'd like to announce that you and doña Inés are honorary... Members of Los Malos.

Yeah!

[enthusiastic clapping] MR.

PETERS: Beautiful., beautiful.

Inés... Ahora somos de Los Malos.

¿Tú y yo?

[laughs] Beautiful.

[laughs] Abuelo, you were fantastic!

¡Sí!

[clapping and cheering] [♪]